By Artemis Moshtaghian and Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN (CNN) — Mehdi Yarrahi, an Iranian singer and musician known for his song encouraging women to remove their hijabs, was lashed 74 times as part of his punishment for supporting the protests that swept the country, his lawyer said Wednesday. The punishment was “fully and completely implemented,” his
Continue ReadingBy Piper Hudspeth Blackburn and Rene Marsh, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is considering selling off hundreds of “non-core” federal properties, according to the General Services Administration. “GSA’s decisive action to dispose of non-core assets leverages the private sector, drives improvements for our agency customers, and best serves local communities,”
Continue ReadingBy Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — A workers’ board is reinstating – at least temporarily – almost 6,000 fired probationary workers from the Department of Agriculture, according to a newly issued order obtained by CNN. The order, by the Merit Systems Protection Board, undercuts President Donald Trump’s attempts to downsize the federal civil service and
Continue Reading
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday at the Indian Wells Golf Resort — to kick off the re-design of the Players Course. The project, which is set to improve the course and create a more walkable layout is expected to take until October to complete. The golf resort is hiring
Continue Reading
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Chachi “The Rocketman” Valencia, cannonball performer, is recovering after a stunt went awry at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival on Sunday. Valencia said an unexpected wind gust altered his performance, causing him to strike the side of his safety net and land on the asphalt. He said he
Continue Reading
Tennis star Taylor Fritz surprised the Palm Desert High School Boys’ and Girls’ tennis teams on Wednesday. The teams were told that they were just going to grab a group lunch at the Chipotle in La Quinta but when they arrived, they were greeted by the top-ranked American men’s tennis player in the world, Taylor
Continue ReadingBy Kevin Liptak, Jeff Zeleny and Alayna Treene, CNN Washington (CNN) — When President Donald Trump declared in the House Chamber this week that executives at the nation’s top automakers were “so excited” about their prospects amid his new tariff regime, it did not entirely reflect the conversation he’d held with them earlier that day.
Continue ReadingBy Kit Maher, Michael Rios and Mick Krever, CNN (CNN) — US President Donald Trump issued what he said was a “last warning” to Hamas to release all of the hostages in Gaza immediately – in a move that came just hours after the White House confirmed it was negotiating directly with the militant group.
Continue ReadingBy Shania Shelton, CNN (CNN) — Chaos within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has come to light in a recent court filing showing emails and documents from employees inside the agency amid efforts to dismantle it, illustrating a team scrambling to make do with recent firings and confusion on what work is allowed to be
Continue ReadingBy Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — A federal appeals court is allowing President Donald Trump to remove the head of a government watchdog agency while a legal challenge to his firing plays out. In a brief, unsigned order issued Wednesday afternoon, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request by the Trump administration to
Continue ReadingBy Christopher Lamb, CNN (CNN) — The Vatican appears to have modified its position against gender-affirming surgery and “gender theory” last year, raising the possibility of “exceptional situations.” This week the Vatican published a speech by doctrine chief Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández where he said, “there are cases outside the norm, such as strong dysphorias
Continue ReadingBy Eric Levenson and Angélica Franganillo-Díaz, CNN (CNN) — The mayors of four “sanctuary cities” faced tough questions from lawmakers about their policies toward immigrants and how they work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday. New York Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Boston Mayor
Continue ReadingBy Daniel Wine, CNN Editor’s Note: CNN’s 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here. 
Welcome to 5 Things PM! Are antidepressants addictive? Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s comments at his Senate confirmation hearing before becoming US Health and Human
By Hilary Whiteman, CNN Brisbane, Australia (CNN) — Millions of residents along Australia’s eastern coast are bracing for the arrival of a very slow-moving storm, the strongest tropical cyclone to threaten the region in more than 50 years. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall early Saturday with the strength of an Atlantic tropical
Continue ReadingBy Annette Choi, Alex Leeds Matthews, Danya Gainor and Amy O’Kruk, CNN (CNN) — Thousands of federal workers have been laid off or issued immediate termination notifications as part of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s plan to cut spending and downsize the federal government. CNN is tracking the chaotic and rapidly evolving situation at
Continue ReadingBy John Fritze and Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — A pair of rulings have exposed deep divisions on the Supreme Court about just how much power the federal judiciary has to stop President Donald Trump – and could have enormous implications for the flood of litigation challenging Trump’s actions. Wednesday, a 5-4 majority of the
Continue Reading
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – A Coachella Valley Unified School District student was killed in a crash Tuesday morning in Imperial County. The student’s death was first announced by the district on Tuesday. The California Highway Patrol shared new details Wednesday. The crash happened at around 11:05 a.m. on Brawley Avenue, approaching a posted stop
Continue ReadingBy Eugenia Yosef and Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN (CNN) — Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin has initiated proceedings to dismiss the country’s Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of abusing her authority to undermine the government’s policies and destabilize Israel’s rule of law. Right-wing Israeli politicians have long called for her dismissal.
Continue ReadingBy Elizabeth Wolfe and Graham Hurley, CNN (CNN) — A trio of skiers is likely buried under an avalanche near Anchorage, Alaska, that occurred Tuesday afternoon, but dangerous backcountry conditions have so far stymied recovery operations, officials announced. The three missing adults had flown by helicopter to the snowy mountain range for skiing, known as
Continue ReadingBy Devyn Byers, CNN (CNN) — Famous bald eagle mates Jackie and Shadow watched closely as the first of two chicks began to hatch Monday in Big Bear Valley, California, after nearly three years without successful hatching. The avian couple have long awaited new chicks, and America along with them. The nonprofit organization Friends of
Continue Reading